Coupling means for use with calculating, bookkeeping, or like machines



Sept. 14, 1948. R. HOFGAARD 2,449,223

COUPLING MEANS FOR USE WITH CALCULATING,

BOOKKEEPING OR LIKE MACHINES Filed Dec. 5, 1-946 2 Sheets-:Sheet 1 p y 1945- R HOFGAARD COUELI-NQMEANS 'FOR USE WITH CALCULATING,

BOOKKEE'PING on LIKE MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5, 1946 @I'MWQ Mob,

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES COUPLING MEANS FOR USE WITH CALCU- LATING, BOOKKEEPIN G, R LIKE MA- CHINES Rolf Hofgaard, Nordstrandshogda, near Oslo,

. Norway Application December 5, 1946, Serial No. 714,295 In Norway May 1, 1946 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-61) The present invention relates to a coupling arrangement adapted to be used in electrical calculating machines, bookkeeping machines, coding and decoding machines, statistic machines, etc, and the object of the inventio-n is to provide a coupling arrangement for machines of this type in which numbers or letters are indicated by code signs, the individual elements of which may be combined to indicatea predetermined number or other value.

One object of the invention is to provide a coupling arrangement of this type which is adapted to carry out the necessary operations solely by means of switches or contacts connected in the different circuits of the coupling arrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coupling arrangement of the kind specified which is adapted to operate with a minimum number of relays and contacts and which is therefore simple and reliable.

The coupling arrangement in accordance with the present invention principally has for its object to connect one or more of a number of electrical circuits (output circuits) with a source of current in such a manner that the circuits are selected on one hand in accordance with electrical impulses supplied in accordance with apredetermined code and on the other hand in accordance with the circuit or circuits which have been connected to the source of current during a previous operation.

In accordance with the invention the coupling arrangement comprises two sets of electro-magnetically controlled switch relays interconnected in series, one set being adapted to receive impulses from an exterior source and the other set being adapted to transmit the impulses which have passed the first set of relays.

The number of relay-s in the first set corresponds to the number of units in the code utilised for introducing impulses, whereas the number of relays in the second set corresponds to the number of output circuits which may be equalto or dif- 'ferent from the number of units in the code syscoupling arrangement may be of any convenient type of electro-magnetically controlled multiple contact relays, i. e., contact relays which simultaneously interrupt or close a number of contacts when actuated by an electrical impulse.

It is preferred to use a relay of the type which is described in applicant's co-pending application Serial No. 714,070, filed December 4, 1946, and provided with a mechanically operated driving member and an electro-magnetic control mechanism which co-operates in such a manner that contacts of certain switches are moved from normal position to working position against spring action by means of the mechanical driving member and remain locked in working position when the electro-magnet is energized and are released from their working position so as to be moved back to normal position by spring action when the electro-magnet is de-energized.

This type of relay has the advantage amongst others that it will operate effectively by means of relatively weak electro-magnetic impulses.

In the accompanying drawing is diagrammatically illustrated how the present coupling arrangement may be used in connection with an electrical calculating machine for addition and subtraction using a decadic system of numbers and a code comprising the digits 1-2-2-4, by means of which all digits in the decadic system of numbers may be indicated.

Referring to the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a coupling diagram,

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate a practical embodiment of the multiple contact relays used in normal position and working position respectively, and

. Figure 4 illustrates on a smaller scale a set of such multiple contact relays corresponding to that illustrated in the coupling diagram.

In the coupling diagram the digits in parenthesis are the digits of the code system used, whereas the other numerals relate to the difierent parts of the arrangement.

The coupling arrangement comprises two sets of multiple contact relays ll, l2, I3, I4 and l5, l6, l1, l8, the first of which are controlled by intake circuits and correspond to the digits 4, 2, 2 and 1 in the code system, whereas the second set controls the output circuits and corresponds to the digits 1, 2, 2, 4 in the same code system.

Further, the coupling arrangement comprises an auxiliary relay I'9, the object of which is to perform the couplings necessary for a carry transfor operation.

The intake circuits are indicated at 20, 2 I, 22, 23 and may be supplied with electrical impulses from a suitable coupling box 24 which is connected by means of,.a line 25 to the plus terminal of a battery 2B.

Each of the intake lines 20-23 are connected with electro-magnetic switches 21-28, 29-30,

3l-32, 33-34 and corresponding electro-magnetic switches 35-35, 31-38, 39-40, 4l-42 and 43-44 are arranged in connection with multiple contact relays l5, l6, l1, l8 and I9.

The output lines from the coupling are indi catedwith 45, 46, 41 and 48 and represent the 3 digits 1, 2, 2 and 4 in the code system used for the intake lines.-

Each multiple contact relay comprises a' number of contact arms which, when the relay receives an impulse, are moved from a resting contactto' coupling diagram, the electr c-magnetic switch 27; Z8 'is' self-closing so that after having received ari'impulse'it maintains the corresponding relay in working position until the contact is intermete- 1 by mechanical means as will be described in connection with Figures 2-4. I V

A lineal." by n'rieans' o-fia switch fiii'may be connected to'the plus linegfi of the battery, whereby a' c'ontac't" device's-4;; 55-, as is ccnnectedin the circuit instead of the contact' device 49; 58, 5!. This coupling takes place when the couplin'g'arrangement is to be used for subtractio'ninst'ead of addition.

Further, the multiple contact reIa'y H compris e'stwocontactsystem-s 51, 58; and 59, 60, the functionof which is connected with a carry'trans-' fer'gs peration I, I

Each of the multiple contact relays! I' l 9 may suitably be carried out as illustrated in Figures 2 arl'd3, and the relays may be placed with relation each other as diagrammatically illustrated in The multiple contact'relay comprises a number of contact arms 200 which in the normal position, as illustrated in Figure 2, engage" contact springs 29!. This is thefposltion of therelay" contacts illustrated in Figure 1. I N

Oh the opposite sideo'f each contact arm 200 are located contact springs 202 and these as well as contact springs 2 l are connected at their 'topend 's with an-illustratedbl ock 2113'. v 1

The block 2133' carries pivoted arm" 284 which it is turned" from the position illustrated in Figure 2' to' the one illustrated in Figure 3 is brought into the path of a recipi'bcating mechanically driven actuating member 205. g

The movement of the arm 204 is controlled by an electromagnet Eli-ii correspondingto electromagnets Z'L-ZS 4!-4 2 in Figure 1, the armature of said e'lectro-mag'net being adapted when attracted to swing the arms 204 into the" posit-ion illustrated in Figure 3.

Member 205 will then press the arm 2M and the block 2-03 towards theleft so that contact is made with the contact spring 282- as illustrated in Figure 3.

In this posi-tion ah-ook 20-1 grips in-behind a nose 203 on" the arm- 2% and thereby locks the parts 203; 2B! in the position'illustrated'in Figure 3 irfesp ectiveof whether'thelectro magnet 286 is energized or not.

Uioon"its next stroke the" mechanicala'ctuating member 265" Will press the'hdbk' 284' Slightly towards-the left, and i'f'theelectro-mag netis then not energized, the armature 2G1 and the whole contact set willr'r'ioveback intothe position illustrated in Figure 2'.- I

r Inlcasetheelectro niagnet is"energized, the difrerenrparts of" the may will; however; frfiairi'in the position illustrated in Figure 3 (the working position) g On the armature tc'lismounted an arm 2B9 which engages with its lower end a contact spring When the armature 261 is attracted, the arm'ZM-presses contact spring 2m against another contact=spring 2H and thereby establishes a self-closing'circuit for the electro-magnet as indicated in Figure 1, for instance at electromagnet Zland armature 28.

In connection with the coupling illustrated in Figure 1; the-relay operates in such a manner that an "electrical impulse for instance in one of lines 2il-23 energizes the electro-magnet so that the relay contacts are carried from normal to working position. The movement of the mechanical actiiat ing member is synchronized in such'a manner with the impulses supplied'tha't it performs one vfull reciprocating" stroke for each impulse; and the relays; the electro magnets' of which'areem ergized, will then either be moved int-'0 or maintained in workingposition, wher'asthe other relays are" either m OVc d to or caused" to remain I in normal position.

The self 'olosing' contacts 210, 21 I m ybe-cennccted in series with the contacts 2B0;-2-B-lso that the "self closing circuit is broken when the'rlay contacts are in working position; I

All relays" I "I -1 9 as indicated in Figure l' are mounted c1cse1y adjacent a'n'din" lilievv'itfi each other and the actuating members 205 are formed by the hooks 2M or the like mounted on acornr' iprocatingbar '21 2 deriving its riiovement frornan e'cc entric 2l3. v v v the following it'w'ill be indicated by ari' eirample" how a simple calculating operation may be carried out by means of thee-dueling"arrangement a'boy' described.

I t is' tobe p esulriedthat the renewingcalculat- First the digit 8' is introduced, this digit being composeti by the code element' 'a, 2, 2 and a'ccordirig'ly're'lays"H, i2; l3'are movedfro'm'ii-orthan to working position by means of impulses through lines Zfi- Zl- 'ZZ.

The following circuits are then closed:Plus"tern'iin'al' of the battery; lines 25%; I'- Z 63 54- electro-ma-gnet' 'w'i'tch 3 E 3 8; whereby relay i6 is connected in working position. Current also passes through linefi'fi'over' 'H"'i2 to''i andfro'in there through l3'toelectro magnet switcht 9* 40, whereby relay I1 is connected in working position; Further fr'om'fili-o'ver l4 l6to"48and from there" over 11 to electro m'agnet switch 42; whereby relay I 8' is energized in working position.

The ihtroductibn of digit 8'by" rx'ieansof impulses on intake" lines 2iJ-"-'2'l 22 accordingly have connected the corresponding outputlines 46== i1" "4*8-with* the plus terminal of the'battory and at the same timebrought moving relays IE IT and [8 representing the code digits 2 2 and''into working position;

As the next operation to be carried out" is the subtraction of 2; line 25' is cohne'cted by ci'switcn 53'with line" 52', whereby theses i in all relays are cut in which serve to carry out'subtractionih accordan-cewith the wellkriown principle of adding" the complementary value of the subtraction.

The output lines from the lastih take relay acciiidifigly" for subtraction are directly connected with output lines corresponding to the complementary values in the addition circuits.

By connecting line 52 in accordance with the subtraction system to be used and which does not form a part of the present invention, current is supplied to output lines 41-48, whereas output line 46 is out out, current being instead supplied to output line 45 and at the same time relay It (the carrier relay) is moved into working position.

Instead of output lines 46, 41, 43 corresponding to the digit 8 first introduced there is accordingly now current on output lines 45, 41, 8 corresponding to digit 7+ carrier digit 1.

This particular method of coupling has certain practical advantages which need not be discussed as it is possible in connection with the coupling arrangement in accordance with the invention to use even other methods of sub-traction which are known from other automatic addition and subtraction systems.

The digit 2 is now introduced by means of an impulse through line 22, whereby relay i3 is energized and the following current circuits are closed: 25--52--l819-3B-43+44. When electro-magnet 43 receives current, relay l9 remains in working position.

Further, there is closed a circuit 25-52'l8 8l-82-I00 to 45 and through 85 to electromagnet 35, whereby relay I5 is connected in working position. There is also closed a circuit 2 5--52--8'6--81-88-I63-89-65-l4-93 to 48 and from there over 11 to electro-magnet 4| so that relay l8 still is cut into working position. Further, there passes current over 83--94IM -l0591-l to 91'.

The current impulse hereby supplied to carry line 91" passes to the next set of relays which is in all essentials identical with the set of relays illustrated in Figure 1. carry impulse to the next set of relays is to move this set into zero position as in accordance with the method of subtraction referred to above it is automatically put in the position corresponding to 9 by moving switch 53 into subtraction position. The next set of relays which, as it will be understood, corresponds to a higher unit (tenths) is accordingly now in position for taking up the next carry impulse.

As the next operation is to be carried out as an addition, switch 53 is again brought into the position illustrated on the drawing and digit 7 is introduced by current impulses on lines 202l 23 representing the code digits 4-2 and 1. Of the remaining relays ll8 and I9 remain in working position since the previous operation.

The following current circuits are now closed: I 9 I--I 02-8 965666l6846 and further lM-HM-M-JM-IllE-W.

The result of the operations heretofore discussed consequently will be that the output lines 45-45 representing code 1+2=3 are under current whereas at the same time the carry impulse through line 91' to the next set of relays has put the output line 45 of that set of relays under current.

The number 13 is accordingly now introduced into the two first sets of relays of the system.

The calculating example given above has only the object of understanding how the coupling arrangement in accordance with the present invention may be utilized in connection with addition and subtraction.

For those skilled in the art it will be easily understood that the various calculating opera- The effect of the first tions may be carried out by utilizing the principle forming the basis for the coupling arrangement of the present invention.

It will also be understood that in connection with the coupling diagram which has herein been illustrated as an example, it will be necessary in some of the connection lines to use one-way valves (such as selenium rectifiers or the like) in order to prevent undesired transmission of current impulses through the lines connected to the first relay in the second set of contact relays.

The use of one-way valves in one or more of the transmission lines is here not necessary for the general function of the system, and they may for instance be obviated by using the same number of current intakes and contact groups in the first set of relays as in the second.

I claim:

1. A coupling arrangement for electrical computing apparatus comprising a set of electromag netically controlled input relays, the number of input relays being equal to the number of units in a code system, means for selectively energizing said relays in accordance with numeral values to be entered in the apparatus, sets of contacts controlled by the respective input relays, the sets of contacts of the last input relay including contacts significant respectively of each code value, a source of current, connections between said sets of contacts to connect said current source to those contacts of the last relay corresponding to code values of the energized input relays, a plurality of output electrical circuits, a set of electromagnetically controlled storing relays equal in number to the plurality of electrical output circuits, sets of contacts controlled by the respective storing relays, the first storing relay having contacts corresponding to and connected respectively to the contacts of the last input relay, and connections between the sets of contacts of the storing relays and to said output circuits to complete circuits from said current source to those output circuits corresponding to the numerical value represented by the selectively energized input relays, said last mentioned circuit connections also completing circuits to energize those of the storing relays corresponding to the accumulated numerical value entered at said input relays.

2. A coupling arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said electromagnetically controlled relays includes a solenoid and an armature movable thereby into operative position on energization of the solenoid, said sets of contacts include switch blades movable between front and back contacts, and mechanical reciprocating means cooperating with relay armatures in operative positions to shift the switch blades of the sets of contacts of energized relays into engagement with their front contacts.

3. A coupling arrangement as recited in claim 1, wherein the number of electrical output circuits is equal to the number of input relays.

ROLF HOFGAARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

